Update | March 2009

The owner of a property at Halsted and 18th Street would sell if the price were right, but he still may open a controversial hot dog stand there if he retains the site.

In summer 2008, University Village and East Pilsen community members voiced disapproval of Alex Lazarevski’s proposal to open a Maxwell Street Express hot dog stand on his property. After community meetings that brought together neighborhood business owners and residents, Alderman Daniel Solis, and Lazarevski, the hot dog stand’s fate was left undetermined.

Since then Solis has met with Lazarevski again to discuss the issue. According to Carlos Chavarria, owner of Kristoffer’s Café and a leader in the community, Solis told Lazarevski that neighborhood people still opposed the hot dog stand. Lazarevski allegedly told Solis he would be willing to sell the property for $900,000 to $950,000, said Chavarria.

In the meantime, work continues on Lazarevski’s property.

“He might open the stand, he might not,” said Chavarria. The community has since formed the 18th Street and Halsted Association to address neighborhood issues such as community planning, Chavarria said, because “we never want to go through this again.”

Chavarria added the group wants to welcome new businesses, neighbors, and networking opportunities while “keeping the neighborhood in mind first.”

Chavarria hosted the association’s kickoff party at Kristoffer’s Café, where business owners and neighbors gathered and the association launched its website, www.18th-halsted.org.

- Julie Sammarco